Compactor

ABSTRACT

A material compactor for use with backhoes and the like. The compactor includes a box frame adapted for attachment to a backhoe and a hydraulic motor rigidly supported within the box frame. A shaft is rotatably supported on the frame beneath the motor. The shaft extends horizontally and is directly coupled to the motor by a chain and sprocket drive. A pair of connecting rod assemblies are eccentrically mounted directly on the shaft and extend downwardly therefrom to a pair of compactor shoes.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Johnston R.Llvlnptoa Dallas; George C. Whltus. Grand Prairie; both 0!. Tex.

[21] ApplNo. "1.753

[22] Filed Apr.l,l969

[45] Patented July 13,197!

[73] Assignee Construction TeehnologyJne.

Arllngtom'lu.

[$41 COMPACIOR 7 Claims, 3 Drnwh Pipe.

[52] U5. CL... 94/49 [51] lnt.Cl Bole 19/30 [50) Field of Search 94/49, 48

[$6] Relerenees Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887.34] ll/l932 Venable 94/49 2,338,056 l2/l943 Penote 94/49 2,753.7 7/l956 Brown. 94/49 3.091.159 5/l963 Miller 94/49 3,l28,682 4/l964 Thompson 94/49 X 3.l62.l02 l2/l964 Juneau t a r i. 94/49 3.259.035 7/l966 Pl'undt.... 94/49 3,376,799 4/l968 Perry i r 94/49 3,472,l 35 [0/1969 Nevitt M 94/49 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney Richards, Harris 81 Hubbard ABSTRACT: A material compactor for use with backhoes and the like. The compactor includes a box frame adapted for attachment to a backhoe and a hydraulic motor rigidly sup-- ported within the box frame. A shaft is rotatably supported on the frame beneath the motor. The shaft extends horizontally and is directly coupled to the motor by a chain and sprocket drive. A pair of connecting rod assemblies are eccentrically mounted directly on the shaft and extend downwardly therefrom to a pair of compactor shoes.

PATENTED JUL 1 3 IHTI 0 2 "c 6 4 6 2 4 4 W 3 2 5 6 0 4 2 3 7 m 3 3 U T m m N m E w w m T S 6 m N L R m T s N H o J GEORGE C. WHITUS ATTORNEYS COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF TH E IN V ENTION In the construction industry, compactors are used to compress earth, sand, and other relatively loose materials prior to paving or similar operations. The various compactors that have been used heretofore have operated satisfactorily but have been relatively complicated in design and therefore expensive to purchase. Also, many commercially available compactors have been unsuited for use with backhoes and the like and, accordingly, have been difficult to transport and operate in the field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment this invention comprises a frame adapted for attachment to a backhoe or the like, a motor mounted on the frame, a shaft directly coupled to the motor and at least one compactor shoe directly coupled to the shaft. Preferably, the frame is a box frame and the motor is positioned within the frame. Also, there are preferably two compactor shoes which are coupled to the shaft by offset eccentrics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of a compactor employing the invention showing the compactor in use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the compactor shown in FIG. 1 in which certain parts have been broken away more clearly to illustrate certain features of the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views. Referring particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a backhoe having a hydraulically operated boom 12. A compactor l4 employing the invention is mounted on the end of the boom l2. The backhoe serves to transport the compactor 14 and includes hydraulic pumps which supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulically operated boom l2. Hydraulic fluid is also supplied from the backhoe 10 to the compactor 14 through a pair of hydraulic lines 16. The boom 12 serves to raise and lower and to apply pressure to the compactor 14. By operating the backhoe l0 and the boom 12 the compactor 14 can be positioned at virtually any desired angle and can be preloaded with virtually any desired pressure.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the details of the compactor 14 are shown. The components of the compactor 14 are supported on a box frame 18 including a plurality of side plates 20. A pair of beams 22 and 24 extend across the top of the box frame I8 and are secured to the side plates by welding. Similarly, three beams 26, 28 and 30 extend across the bottom ofthe box frame 18. Like the beams 22 and 24, the beams 26, 28 and 30 are secured to the side plates 20 by weldtrig.

The upper portion of the box frame 18 is closed by a top plate 32. The top plate 32 is secured to the box frame 18 by the cooperation of a plurality of studs 34 which extend into the beams 22 and 24 of the frame 18 and a plurality of nuts 36 which are threadedly engaged with the studs 34. A pair of support plates 38 are secured to the top plate 32 by welding and extend upwardly therefrom. The compactor [4 may be secured to the boom ofa backhoe by attaching a boom to the support plates 38 of the top plate 32.

The bottom of the box frame [8 is closed by a housing 40 comprised ofa plurality of side plates 42. The side plates 42 are secured to a pair of bars 44 by welding. The bars 44 are in turn secured to the beams 26, 28 and 30 of the box frame In by the cooperation ofa plurality of studs 46 which extend into the beams 26, 28 and 30 and a plurality of nuts 48 which are threadedly engaged with the studs 46. A door 50 is formed in one of the side plates 42 to provide access to the interior of the compactor 14.

The compactor I4 is operated by a hydraulic motor 52 mounted within the box frame 18. The motor 52 is positioned on the beam 28 and is secured thereto by a pair of bolts 54. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to and removed from the motor 52 by a pair of pipes 56 which extend through the interior of the box frame 18 from the hydraulic lines 16. When hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to the motor 52 through the pipes 56, the motor 52 rotates a shaft 58 extending from the motor 52. The shaft 58 in turn rotates a sprocket 60 supported on the shaft 58.

A horizontally extending shaft 62 is supported below the frame 18 by a plurality of pillow blocks 64, each of which is secured to one of the beams 26, 28 and 30 by means ofa pair of bolts 66. The pillow blocks 64 are of the antifriction type and are press-fitted onto the shaft 62. A sprocket 68 is also press-fitted onto the shaft 62. The shaft 62 is rotated by the motor 52 by means of a chain 70 extending around the sprocket 60 and the sprocket 68.

Rotation of the shaft 62 serves to vibrate a pair of compactor shoes 72 positioned at the bottom of the compactor M. The compactor shoes 72 are supported on the shaft 62 by a pair of connecting rod assemblies 74. As is best shown in FIG. 3, the connecting rod assemblies 74 are each comprised of an upper member 76 and a lower member 78.

The upper member 76 of each assembly 74 is eccentrically connected to the shaft 62 by an eccentric 80 press-fttted onto the shaft 62 and an antifriction bearing 82 press-fitted onto the eccentric 80 and into the upper member 76. The lower member 78 of each connecting rod assembly 74 is connected to the upper member 76 thereof by means ofa pair of bolts 84 and is in turn connected to one of the compactor shoes 72 by a pin 86. The lower members 78 of the connecting rod assemblies 74 are guided by a pair of guide members 88 positioned in the housing 40.

In the preferred embodiment. all of the structural elements of the compactor 14 are formed from ordinary cold-rolled steel with the exception of the guide 88 and the lower members 78 of the connecting rod assemblies 74 which are formed from cast 4330 steel. The eccentrics 80 which connect the connecting rod assemblies 74 to the shaft 62 are preferably offset l80 with respect to each other and preferably provide an eccentricity of one-eighth inch so that the total stroke of the compactor shoes 72 is one-quarter inch. Preferably, onesixteenth inch clearance is provided between the guide 88 and the lower members 78 of the connecting rod assemblies 74. A compactor so constructed is suitable for use with any of the various commercially available backhoes and similar devices and, when so used, serves to compact material positioned beneath the compactor shoes 72 of the compactor 14.

The compactor illustrated in the drawing differs from most prior compactors in that the motor is directly coupled to the shaft which is in turn directly coupled to the compactor shoes. This dispenses with the use of reaction masses, springs and the like which have commonly been employed in prior compactor designs. The resulting compactor is less expensive, more straightforward in design, and simpler in operation.

The direct coupling of the motor to the shaft and the direct coupling of the shaft to the compactor shoes also results in a more versatile compactor design. That is, the compactor shown in the drawing may be employed in many work situations in which compactors constructed according to prior designs are useless. For example, the illustrated compactor may be operated at any desired angle, including horizontal. Thus, the compactor may be used to impact a wall or other vertical surface. Also, the compactor can be operated under any desired load, including no load. This permits use of the compactor in situations wherein relatively fragile structures,

such as pipes etc., are buried under the material being compacted. Furthermore by controlling the flow ofhydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor the operating frequency of the compactor can be controlled. This is also advantageous in situations requiring control of the compacting force.

In addition to affording control over compacting attitude load and frequency, the illustrated compactor design is versatile in that it may be employed as an impacting device as well as a compacting device. When the compactor is so used, the compactor shoes are replaced with spikes. The resulting impacting device is very useful in breaking up concrete and the like.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in the foregoing specification. it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed but is capable of rearrangement modification and substitution of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A compactor comprising:

a backhoe having a boom;

a substantially closed hollow box mounted on the boom of the backhoe;

a motor positioned within the box;

a plurality of bearings mounted on the box;

a shaft supported in the bearings for rotation about a horizontal axis;

means directly coupling the shaft to the motor for rotation thereby;

a pair of connecting rods eccentrically mounted to the shaft for reciprocatory movement out of phase with each other in response to rotation ofthe shaft. and

a pair of members. one mounted on each of the connecting rods. for alternative reciprocatory movement relative to the housing in response to operation ofthe motor.

2. The compactor according to claim 1 further includingia housing extending from the box for enclosing the shaft and the connecting rods and further including guide means positioned in the housing for guiding the connecting rods.

3. The compactor according to claim 1 wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor and further including means for transferring hydraulic fluid from the backhoe into the box and hence to the motor 4. The compactor according to claim 1 wherein the means for directly coupling the motor and the shaft comprises a sprocket driven by the motor, a sprocket mounted on the shaft and a chain extending around the sprockets.

5. A compactor mechanism comprising:

a frame;

a pair of members mounted on the frame for alternate reciprocatory movement in a predetermined direction;

a shaft supported on the frame for rotation with respect thereto;

a pair of eccentric mechanisms each mounted to the shaft and each for reciprocating one of the members upon rotation of the shaft;

a motor mounted on the frame for rotating the shaft;

a vehicle for supporting and transporting the frame and operatively connected to the motor for supplying power thereto and a boom mounted on the vehicle for supporting and positioning the frame and for applying a force thereto in the predetermined direction, whereby, upon operation of the motor the members superimpose a hammering action on the force applied by the boom.

6. The compactor mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the members are compactor feet, wherein the eccentric mechanisms are supported on the shaft and further including a pair of connecting rods each extending between one of the eccentric mechanisms and one of the compactor feet.

7. The compactor mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the frame is a hollow box, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor mounted within the box and further includin a housmg supported on the motor and surrounding the sha t and the eccentrics. 

1. A compactor comprising: a backhoe having a boom; a substantially closed hollow box mounted on the boom of the backhoe; a motor positioned within the box; a plurality of bearings mounted on the box; a shaft supported in the bearings for rotation about a horizontal axis; means directly coupling the shaft to the motor for rotation thereby; a pair of connecting rods eccentrically mounted to the shaft for reciprocatory movement out of phase with each other in response to rotation of the shaft, and a pair of members, one mounted on each of the connecting rods, for alternative reciprocatory movement relative to the housing in response to operation of the motor.
 2. The compactor according to claim 1 further including a housing extending from the box for enclosing the shaft and the connecting rods and further including guide means positioned in the housing for guiding the connecting rods.
 3. The compactor according to claim 1 wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor and further including means for transferring hydraulic fluid from the backhoe into the box and hence to the motor.
 4. The compactor according to claim 1 wherein the means for directly coupling the motor and the shaft comprises a sprocket driven by the motor, a sprocket mounted on the shaft and a chain extending around the sprockets.
 5. A compactor mechanism comprising: a frame; a pair of members mounted on the frame for alternate reciprocatory movement in a predetermined direction; a shaft supported on the frame for rotation with respect thereto; a pair of eccentric mechanisms each mounted to the shaft and each for reciprocating one of the members upon rotation of the shaft; a motor mounted on the frame for rotating the shaft; a vehicle for supporting and transporting the frame and operatively connected to the motor for supplying power thereto, and a boom mountEd on the vehicle for supporting and positioning the frame and for applying a force thereto in the predetermined direction, whereby, upon operation of the motor, the members superimpose a hammering action on the force applied by the boom.
 6. The compactor mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the members are compactor feet, wherein the eccentric mechanisms are supported on the shaft and further including a pair of connecting rods each extending between one of the eccentric mechanisms and one of the compactor feet.
 7. The compactor mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the frame is a hollow box, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor mounted within the box, and further including a housing supported on the motor and surrounding the shaft and the eccentrics. 